Washington, 22 December 2022 (GNP): Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskyy received a heroic welcome at Washington after his post-invasion visit to the United States (US).
This is Zelenskyy’s second visit to the US since President Joe Biden took office in 2021. In a joint statement with President Biden, the Ukrainian President thanked the US government and its people for their support and aid in their war against Russia.
He asked for more support from the international community this winter as Russia is using weather as a ‘weapon’ against the Ukrainian people by deliberately hitting their energy infrastructure.
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Meanwhile, in his welcoming address, President Biden reiterated the unwavering support of the United States for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. President Biden said that the Ukrainian people are fighting for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and democracy of the world at large. If the international community did not respond properly to this crisis at the time, they would have to pay a price beyond their imagination.
He rebuked Russian President Vladimir Putin for invading Ukraine and now using ‘weather as a weapon’ by starving and killing the innocent Ukrainian people. This is the reason why Washington will do and give everything to Kyiv; it is needed for their freedom, prosperity, and security.
The Biden administration announced a new military aid package of $1.85 billion for Ukraine that also included a battery of Patriot missiles. There is a sure possibility that Congress will also give its green signal to another package of ominous spending of $45 billion.
Earlier, on his arrival, President Biden and first lady Jill Biden welcomed President Zelenskyy at the White House. In his visit to the Capitol building, President Zelenskyy asked Congress for more aid and assistance in every sphere for Ukraine.
Interestingly, a similar request by President Zelenskyy in 2019 was turned down by then President Donald Trump in favor of investigating charges against Hunter Biden, son of Joe Biden, who was then a director of a Ukrainian energy company, Burisma Holdings Limited, for the alleged corruption of Hunter Biden. President Trump’s hidden motif was to weaken his political rival, Joe Biden, in the presidential elections 2020. This move of then President Trump was punishable under US law if it got succeeded in any way.